A lorry has crashed into a motorway bridge closing the key route for hours.
The air ambulance, police, paramedics, fire crews and highways officers have been called to the scene on M6 between junctions 26 and 27 near Parbold and Wigan shortly after 12pm today, Lancashire Live reports.
The closure has been put in place across both southbound and northbound carriageways as emergency services attend the "serious" collision which has scattered debris across the road.
North West Motorway Police confirmed that two vehicles were involved in the collision.
A matrix sign has been set and motorists are asked to avoid the area.
A spokesperson for North West Motorway Police said: "M6 J27 to J26 Southbound - Serious RTC RTC - 2 Vehicle - All lanes blocked matrix set and Police attending. Please avoid the area.!"
A spokesperson for Highways England said: "The M6 at J27 is closed in both directions between the exit and entry slip roads due to a serious collision.
"Avoid the area if this is part of an essential journey. The closure will be in place for at least 4 hours."
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